JimServo League-1903

[JimServo]

Our historical replay brings us back to 1903, as the National and American League compete with each other in the first World Series. 1903 would match the Cleveland Naps (90-65), and the Chicago Cubs (101-53). This is the first in hopefully the a continuing set on the progression of my league. Each will review the AL, the NL, the World Series, and then Awards, Top Players, and League Leaders.

American League Review

  American League Standings :

  (Name              W   L   PCT    GB   AVG   ERA)

   American League

   Cleveland        90  65  .581    --  .279  3.14 

   Philadelphia (A) 89  66  .574     1  .275  3.39 

   Chicago (A)      87  67  .565   2.5  .265  3.37 

   New York (A)     80  74  .519   9.5  .271  3.53 

   Boston (A)       74  80  .481  15.5  .278  3.66 

   Detroit          74  80  .481  15.5  .277  4.04 

   St. Louis (A)    66  88  .429  23.5  .260  3.98 

   Washington       57  97  .370  32.5  .230  3.51 

-At the top of the AL lies the Cleveland Naps, who were led by their manager, Nap Lajoie (.342, 8 HR, 84 RBI). The Naps batted an AL best .279, and featured four .300 hitters (Lajoie, Bill Bradley .330, Elmer Flick .312, and Charlie Hickman at .310). The staff ace was Bill Bernhard, who went 23-10 with a 2.74 ERA, behind him were Addie Joss (18-14, 2.83), and Earl Moore (19-15, 2.89). The Naps nearly blew their chance at the pennant by losing their last three games to second place Philadelphia, forcing a playoff. The Naps took the playoff game 4-2, helped by a 4 run 8th inning rally.

-The Athletics (89-66) featured a solid lineup led by Harry Davis (.307, 9, 86). Topsy Hartsel also chipped in with 8 Homers, and a .312 average. The Athletics staff was strong, but not as strong as the Naps. Best pitcher on the staff was Eddie Plank, who managed just a 16-14 record, but the second best ERA in the league (2.64). Backing him up was strikeout king Rube Waddell (25-11, 3.15 ERA, 240 K) who won the AL Old Hoss Radbourn Award.

-Chicago (87-67) took the third spot, bolstered by solid performances from Roy Patterson (22-12, league best 2.63 ERA), and Nixey Callahan (.318, 1, 93). Behind them was Wee Willie Keeler (.339) and the New York Highlanders. Keeler, and the efforts of Kid Elberfield (.300) were not enough to help the Highlanders underperforming pitching staff.

-The Tigers and Boston Pilgrims (80-74) came in tied next and both shared strong hitting and weak pitching. Although the Pilgrims did have the AL Deacon White Award Winner, Buck Freeman (.324, League Best 13 Homers, 96 RBI), although his selection was questionable, in my opinion.

-St. Louis (66-88) and Washington (57-97) took out the bottom of the standings. The only thing notworthy about the two squads were the performances of Emmet Heidrick (.333, 67 RBI), and Ed Delahanty (.314), respectively. Neither franchise had anything else.

Next up, The National League, featuring the powerhouse Chicago Cubs...

[ March 03, 2002: Message edited by: JimServo ]

[JimServo]

National League Review

National League Standings :

  (Name                  W   L   PCT    GB   AVG  ERA)

   National League

   Chicago (N)         101  53  .656    --  .289  3.20 

   Pittsburgh           96  58  .623     5  .291  3.66 

   Philadelphia (N)     88  66  .571    13  .282  3.85 

   Cincinnati           86  68  .558    15  .274  3.77 

   Brooklyn             82  72  .532    19  .274  4.44 

   New York (N)         59  95  .383    42  .270  4.84 

   St. Louis (N)        53 101  .344    48  .249  4.42 

   Boston (N)           51 103  .331    50  .249  4.76 

-The Cubs were the first team in league history to top 100 wins. The Cubs battled out with the Pirates, and Phillies in the first half of the season before taking control in the second half. The Cubs staff featured three 20-game winners, OHR Award Winner Jack Taylor (28-9, 2.83 ERA), Jake Weimer (25-9, 2.63 ERA), and Bob Wicker (24-11, 3.51). The Cubs staff ranked 1-2-3 in wins, and 1-2 in Earned Run Average. Chicago's batting was solid as well, featuring 5 .300 Hitters (Jimmy Slagle .359, Johnny Evers .348, Davy Jones .322, Doc Casey .311, and Frank Chance .308, 118 RBI). If your curious, the other member of that famous poem, Joe Tinker, hit .248.

-Usually 96 Wins will get you a pennant. Not this year for the Pittsburgh Pirates (96-58). They had the highest batting average in the NL, although they were less balanced then the Cubs (6 .300 Hitters, 1B Kitty Bransfield hit .205, and C Ed Phelps hit .263). Three players (Jimmy Sebring 130, Fred Clarke 112, Tommy Leach 104) topped 100 RBIs. And that doesn't include Honus Wagner, who hit .375. Clarke also hit .340. On the mound, the Pirates had one great starter (Ed Doheny, 22-11, 2.94), one good starter (Deacon Phillippe 22-12, 3.55), and a couple of OK to mediocre starters.

-The Phillies (88-66) were a strong club who had solid hitting and above-average pitching. But above average won't win you any pennants. The two top players of the team were John Titus (.327, 2, 122), and Harry Wolverton (.328, 3, 84).

-The Reds (86-68) had the best (NL Deacon White Award Winner Mike Donlin, who hit .383), and the worst (Shortstop Tommy Corcoran hit .174). Cy Seymour chipped in with a .341 average and 117 Runs Batted In.

-The last over .500 team is the Brooklyn Superbas who starred Jack Doyle (.327, 2, 103), and Jimmy Sheckard (.335, 8, 95). Ned Garvin (20-17, 3.25) was their only notable pitcher.

-The last three teams were just plain old bad. Christy Mathewson (13-13, 3.67) underachieved on the Giants (59-95). The St. Louis Cardinals (53-101), and Boston Beaneaters both were no-hit, no-pitch teams in 1903.

Next up is the World Series.

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: JimServo ]

[JimServo]

1903 World Series
-The first World Series matches the Cleveland Naps (90-65), and the Chicago Cubs (101-53). My Prediction: Chicago in 5

Game 1 in Chicago
-Cleveland opened up with a quick run in the first inning off Chicago starter Jack Taylor. Jack Taylor made up for the run given up with a triple in the 2nd, knocking in a couple of runs. Chicago took a 3 run lead with runs in the 4th and 5th. Nap Lajoie hit a home run in the top of the 6th to cut the lead to 2, and brought it to a one run deficit on a wild pitch in the 8th. But, Cleveland lost their chance by going down 1-2-3 in the 9th inning.

LINE SCORE   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R  H  E

Naps         1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0     3  8  1

Cubs         0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 X     4  8  0

W: Jack Taylor (1-0)

L: Addie Joss (0-1)

HR: Nap Lajoie (1)

Game 2 in Chicago
-The second game would prove to be the key in the series. Both teams exchanged runs in the 2nd, and 5th, and the Cubs nailed down runs in both the 4th and 6th. A 4 run rally by the Naps in the 7th gave the visiting squad a 2 run lead. Dick Harley cut it to one in the ninth with a single that scored Doc Casey. In the ninth, Joe Slagle led off with a quick single, and Joe Tinker moved him to 2nd with a SAC Bunt. Frank Chance then reached base on a key error by Leftfielder Jack McCarthy, and loaded the bases. Singles by Davy Jones and Doc Casey clinched it for the Cubs.

LINE SCORE   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R  H  E

Naps         0 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 0     6  9  3

Cubs         0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 2     7 13  4

W: Jake Weimer (1-0)

L: Earl Moore (0-1)

HR: Jack McCarthy (1)

Game 3at Cleveland
-Joe Tinker homered in a game that was never in serious doubt. Chicago's 5-2 victory gave them a 3-0 series lead.

LINE SCORE   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R  H  E

Cubs         1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1     5 12  2

Naps         0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1     2 11  2

W: Jock Menefee (1-0)

L: Bill Bernhard (0-1)

S: Alex Hardy (1)

HR: Joe Tinker (1)

Game 4 at Cleveland
-In the third 1-run game of the series, Chicago comfirms the sweep with 2 runs consecutive hits by Evers (Triple), Chance (Single), and Jones (Double) in the 4th. Both pitchers, Taylor and Joss, were solid in this pitching duel, with Taylor coming out on top, 2-1.

LINE SCORE   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R  H  E

Cubs         0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0     2  5  0

Naps         0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0     1  6  0

W: Jack Taylor (2-0)

L: Addie Joss (0-2)

-Frank Chance was named MVP, batting .462, in a series that would have been alot closer with just a little more luck going in the Naps direction.

Next up, Awards, Top Players, and League Leaders.

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: JimServo ]

[JimServo]

Awards and Leaders

Awards:

 American League Old Hoss Radbourn Award : 

    Rube Waddell (PHA) !!

    He had a record of 25-11 with an ERA of 3.15 and 5 shutouts.

    In 39 games started, he pitched 331.1 innings, fanning 240 and walking 87 batters.

 American League Deacon White Award : 

    Buck Freeman (BOS) !!

    He batted .324 in 599 AB, with 13 homers and 96 RBI.



 National League Old Hoss Radbourn Award : 

    Jack Taylor (CHN) !!

    He had a record of 28-9 with an ERA of 2.83 and 1 shutouts.

    In 39 games started, he pitched 346.2 innings, fanning 99 and walking 57 batters.

 National League Deacon White Award : 

    Mike Donlin (CIN) !!

    He batted .383 in 562 AB, with 7 homers and 95 RBI.

Rookie of the Year will start in 1904

Best Players based on position*:

P  Player             TEAM     OPS   HR/RBI/R

C  Roger Bresnahan     NY1    .824   4/69/98

1B Charlie Hickman     CLE    .864   8/95/97

2B Nap Lajoie          CLE    .889   8/84/104

3B Harry Steinfeldt    CIN    .851   6/103/80

SS Honus Wagner        PIT    .935   2/75/141

OF Mike Donlin         CIN   1.014   7/95/131

OF Jimmy Sheckard      BRO    .949   8/95/122

OF Fred Clarke         PIT    .925   5/112/108

*Decided by highest OPS
Starting next year, I'll have the top 5 Starting Pitchers too.

  TOP 5 in BATTING AVG :

   .383  Mike Donlin(CIN,NL)

   .375  Honus Wagner(PIT,NL)

   .359  Jimmy Slagle(CHN)

   .348  Johnny Evers(CHN,NL)

   .342  Nap Lajoie(CLE,AL)



  TOP 5 in HOMERUNS :

   13  Buck Freeman(BOS,AL)

   9  Harry Davis(PHA,AL)

   8  Herm Mcfarland(NYA)

   8  Nap Lajoie(CLE,AL)

   8  Topsy Hartsel(PHA,AL)



  TOP 5 in RBI :

   130  Jimmy Sebring(PIT)

   122  John Titus(PHI,NL)

   118  Frank Chance(CHN,NL)

   117  Cy Seymour(CIN)

   112  Fred Clarke(PIT,NL)



  TOP 5 in ERA :

   2.63  Roy Patterson(CHA,AL)

   2.63  Jake Weimer(CHN,NL)

   2.64  Eddie Plank(PHA)

   2.74  Bill Bernhard(CLE)

   2.83  Earl Moore(CLE,AL)



  TOP 5 in WINS :

   28  Jack Taylor(CHN,NL)

   25  Rube Waddell(PHA,AL)

   25  Jake Weimer(CHN,NL)

   24  Bob Wicker(CHN)

   23  Bill Bernhard(CLE)

Thanks for all who stuck around to read all of this, I'll have 1904 at some point soon.

[littleoldman]

..good stuff jim!!..thanks for sharing your league!